Information processing apparatus including storage unit and connection unit for connecting external storage device

Abstract

A main controller of an image forming apparatus allows a user to select whether to perform backup of an internal storage device to an external storage device when detecting that the external storage device is connected to a USB I/F. If the user selects to perform backup, the main controller denies access to the external storage device from processing other than the backup processing at least during the backup processing, and if the user selects not to perform backup, the main controller permits access to the external storage device from processing other than the backup processing.

1 . An information processing apparatus including a storage device and a connection unit configured to connect an external storage device, the information processing apparatus comprising:
 a detection unit configured to detect that the external storage device is connected to the connection unit;   a first selection unit configured to select whether to perform backup processing for copying data stored in the storage device to the external storage device detected by the detection unit based on an instruction of a user of the information processing apparatus; and   a control unit configured to perform control to deny access to the external storage device from other processing different from the backup processing at least during the backup processing if the first selection unit selects to perform the backup processing, and to permit access to the external storage device from the other processing if the first selection unit selects not to perform the backup processing.   
     
     
         2 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the control unit is configured to perform control to deny access to the external storage device from the other processing during a period from when the detection unit detects that the external storage device is connected to the connection unit to when the first selection unit selects not to perform the backup processing. 
     
     
         3 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second selection unit configured to select whether to use the external storage device for the other processing after the backup processing is completed based on an instruction of a user of the information processing apparatus,   wherein the control unit is configured to perform control to permit access to the external storage device from the other processing after the backup processing is completed if the second selection unit selects to use the external storage device for the other processing, and to deny access to the external storage device from other processing even after the backup processing is completed if the second selection unit does not select to use the external storage device for the other processing.   
     
     
         4 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the control unit is configured to deny access to the external storage device from the other processing by performing control so as not to receive an instruction to access the external storage device by the other processing from a user interface of the information processing apparatus. 
     
     
         5 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the control unit is configured to deny access to the external storage device from the other processing by performing control so as not to show a display for inputting an instruction to access the external storage device by the other processing on the user interface of the information processing apparatus. 
     
     
         6 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a comparison unit configured to compare a capacity of the external storage device with a capacity of the storage device in a case that the first selection unit selects to perform the backup processing; and   a third selection unit configured to select whether to permit the other processing to access a surplus area other than a backup area that is used for the backup processing in the external storage device based on an instruction of a user of the information processing apparatus in a case that the comparison unit determines that the capacity of the external storage device is larger than the capacity of the storage device,   wherein the control unit denies access to the backup area from the other processing and permits access to the surplus area from the other processing in a case that the third selection unit selects to permit the other processing to access the surplus area.   
     
     
         7 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the access to the external storage device which is permitted or denied by the control unit includes writing data to the external storage device. 
     
     
         8 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the control unit is configured to deny access to the external storage device from the other processing by performing control so as not to receive a user instruction to specify the external storage device as a storage destination of image data. 
     
     
         9 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a reading unit configured to read image data from a document,   wherein the control unit is configured to perform control so as not to receive a user instruction to specify the external storage device as a storage destination of the image data read from the document by the reading unit.   
     
     
         10 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the control unit is configured to perform control so as not to receive a user instruction to specify the external storage device as a copy destination of image data stored in the storage device. 
     
     
         11 . The information processing apparatus according to  claim 4 , further comprising:
 an image output unit configured to print image data on a print medium as a visible image,   wherein the control unit is configured to deny access to the external storage device from the other processing by performing control so as not to receive a user instruction to specify the external storage device as an acquisition source of image data printed by the image output unit.   
     
     
         12 . A method for controlling an information processing apparatus including a storage device configured to store data and a connection unit configured to connect an external storage device, the method comprising:
 via a controller of the information processing apparatus, detecting that the external storage device is connected to the connection unit;   via the controller of the information processing apparatus, selecting whether to perform backup processing for copying data stored in the storage device to the detected external storage device based on an instruction of a user of the information processing apparatus;   via the controller of the information processing apparatus, performing control to deny access to the external storage device from other processing different from the backup processing at least during the backup processing if it is selected to perform the backup processing; and   via the controller of the information processing apparatus, performing control to permit access to the external storage device from the other processing if it is selected not to perform the backup processing.   
     
     
         13 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a controller of an information processing apparatus, including a storage device configured to store data and a connection unit configured to connect an external storage device, to perform a method comprising:
 detecting that the external storage device is connected to the connection unit;   selecting whether to perform backup processing for copying data stored in the storage device to the detected external storage device based on an instruction of a user of the information processing apparatus;   performing control to deny access to the external storage device from other processing different from the backup processing at least during the backup processing if it is selected to perform the backup processing; and   performing control to permit access to the external storage device from the other processing if it is selected not to perform the backup processing.